Construction toy comprising panels in plate form connectable by elastic bands



Sept. 13, 1966 J. o. SQRENSEN 3,271,895 CONSTRUCTION TOY COMPRISING PANELS IN PLATE FORM CONNECTABLE BY ELASTIC BANDS Filed Jan. 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hg. 1 F192 1 N VEN TOR.

Sept. 13, 1966 J. o. SZRENSEN 3,271,895

CONSTRUCTION TOY COMPRISING PANELS IN PLATE Filed Jan. 3, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 13, 1966 o. SERENSEN 3,271,895

J. CONSTRUCTION TOY COMPRISING PANELS IN PLATE FORM CONNECTABLE BY ELASTIC BANDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1964 Sept. 13, 1966 J. o. SQRENSEN 3,271,895

CONSTRUCTION TOY COMPRISING NEL N PLATE FORM CONNECTABLE BY EL IC Filed Jan. 3, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 13, 1966 ENSEN 3, 7

J. O. S CONSTRUCTION TOY COM SING PANELS IN PLATE FORM CONNECTABLE BY ELASTIC BANDS Filed Jan. 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,271,895 CONSTRUCTION TOY COMPRISING PANELS IN The present invention relates to improvements in constructional sets for use as a toy and consisting of elements which are connected to each other by means of elastic bands which engage recesses in the elements.

In known constructional toy sets of this kind the elements have been in the form of blocks, which when assembled by means of the elastic bands will abut against each other, face to face, whereby the shape of the finished object is determined. This imposes a restriction on the initiative displayed by the children when playing, as the possibilities of free variation are predetermined and limited.

The primary object of the invention is to indicate such a design of the elements that they can very easily be assembled by means of the elastic bands and thereby be efifectively connected to each other regardless of the angle formed between the faces of the elements so connected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a constructional toy set giving a wide scope for bringing into full play the imagination of the children, thereby that in assembling the elements they are to a great extent free to determine the final shape of the object.

A still further object of the invention is to provide that the elastic band after the assembling operation is maintained in safe engagement with the recesses, which at the junction of two neighbouring elements will be placed in pairs directly opposite one another.

Another object of the invention is to provide that the connection between two elements when assembled by means of an elastic band can be completed solely by displacing the elements forwardly and backwardly in relation to one another. Finally the elements should be so designed that they are suitable for mass-production with the use of simple moulds.

The invention substantially consists in, that each element is provided with recess means which include at least one pair of recesses, the mutual spacing of which is the same for all elements, whereby the elastic bands pass through the pairs of recesses in adjacent elements, when the elements are being assembled.

According to the invention the elements can be plateshaped.

As the elastic bands for each pair of recesses form a link which permits an arbitrary angle between the elements, the shape of the object produced can be determined by a free choice from a number of different elements, and the object produced will not be in the form of a solid body but of a hollow spatial body limited by the elements. The said object will therefore be light of weight and may be of great size without any necessity for the loose elements to be overly bulky or weighty when laid in a pile.

The recesses at the edges of the elements are preferably L-shaped, and they are so placed that as far as each pair is concerned they form projections facing away from each other. In this way a safe engagement of the elastic bands in the recesses is ensured.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a more detailed design of the elements, adapted to their use in the constructional set, as will appear from the following descrip- Patented Sept. 13, 1966 tion, in the course of which also the advantages derived therefrom will be referred to.

In the drawings FIG. 1 shows a plane square element according to the invention, as seen from the side,

FIG. 2 shows the same, as seen from the right-hand edge,

FIG. 3 shows on a diminished scale a pentagonal element assembled with a triangular element by means of an elastic band,

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of a plane square element,

FIG. 5 is a cross section on the line V-V in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows two elements as the one shown in FIG. 4, assembled by means of an elastic band,

FIG. 7 is a square element as the one shown in FIG. 4, assembled with a similar triangular element by means of an elastic band,

FIG. 8 shows a modified embodiment of the element shown in FIG. 4, provided with recesses to represent a window,

FIG. 9 is a second modified embodiment of the element shown in FIG. 4, provided with an aperture of such size that a frame is produced, part of the aperture being covered by means of a swingable leaf.

FIG. 10 is a third modified embodiment of the element shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 11 is a front view of a triangular element similar to the one shown in FIG. 7, but designed with three plane surfaces which together form a corner,

FIG. 12 is a side view of a modified embodiment of a plane element according to the invention,

FIG. 13 is a side view of two elements built together, each of which being designed as a cylinder, which has been cut off obliquely,

FIG. 14 is a fourth modified embodiment of the element shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 15 shows schematically a globe composed of eight elements,

FIG. 16 shows on an increased scale one of said elements as seen from the side,

FIG. 17 is a cross section on an increased scale of the edge of the element shown in FIG. 4 on the line XVII XVII,

FIG. 18 shows on the same scale and seen from the side a corner of the element shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 19 is a corner of the triangular element shown to the right in FIG. 7,

FIG. 20 is one of the recesses provided along the long side lines of the element shown in FIG. 12, and

FIGS. 21, 22, and 23 show on a reduced scale various polyhedral bodies formed of triangular, square, and pentagonal elements.

The elements used for the constructional set are preferably made of plastic material, and the production is suitably made by extrusion of the plastic in a mould. The elements are so designed that use can be made of a simple mould consisting of an upper part and a lower part and without cores or displaceable bolts. The elastic bands which are used for interconnecting the elements are suitably of synthetic rubber.

In their most simple form the elements for the constructional set indicated by the invention are plane and so shaped that their circumferences form regular polygons with constant side line, and the recess means used in their assembling are in such case suitably so provided, e.g. at the vertices of the polygons, that two such elements in the process of assembly can always be placed with two side edges adjoining one another, in which way a large number of different spatial bodies can be formed, seeing that the angle between the elements can be varied as desired.

FIG. 1 shows a single square element A, which is substantially formed of a plane plate, at one lateral face of which there extends along the edge a bead F with semicircular cross section. At each edge there are provided in the bead F recess means which include two interruptions G at constant distance from one another and equidistantly from the nearest corner of the element. From the interruptions G indentations D in the beads extend in direction towards each other. As will be seen from FIG. 2 the rounding of the beads F continues to the opposite lateral face of the element.

FIG. 3 shows two elements B and C shaped as a regular pentagon and an equilateral triangle, respectively, having the same length of side lines and being provided with beads F, interruptions G therein, and indentations D extending from the interruptions as explained in the foregoing. The elements B and C are placed side by side with a lateral edge of one against a lateral edge of the other, and an elastic band B, for example an endless rubber band, is placed as shown through the indentations D which are located in pairs opposite each other. In this way an elastic link is formed, which permits the two elements to be swung through an angle up to 180" in relation to one another, whereby the rounded edges of the elements roll upon each other.

Other elements of analogous design can be added in the same way to those shown, so as to form closed spatial bodies, as will be described hereinafter.

In FIG. 4 a second embodiment of a square element has been shown, which is provided with recesses 12 at its corners. As will better be seen from FIG. 18, each recess is so shaped that projections 16 and-indentations 18 behind the projections are produced at the-ends of the side lines 14 of the element. At the lateral edges of the said indentations there are provided thickenings on either side of the element to form beads 20 and 22 at the outer side and the inner side of the indentations, respectively. At the bottom of the indentations, however, there are no thickenings. The said beads serve to reinforce the element around the recesses 12. As appears from FIGS. 4 and 17 the beads 20 may extend from corner to corner along the whole of the interjacent side line, by which means the element as a Whole is reinforced, and its main part within the beads 20 may therefore consist of very thin sheet.

The assembling of two square elements 10 as the one shown in FIG. 4 will be seen from FIG. 6. As before, the elements are placed with two lateral edges abutting against one another, and an elastic band 24 is so placed that it engages the projections 16 and keep the latter close together, while otherwise extending along the beads 20 at the adjoining lateral edges.

In the same way the element 10 can be assembled with a triangular element 26 as appears from FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 serves to illustrate that a square element 28 may have apertures 30, which are meant to represent a window, the element being intended to constitute a side wall or part of an end wall of a house built of the said elements.

In FIG. 9 an element 32 has a single large aperture 34, whereby a frame is produced, which is intended as a gatecasing. The aperture can be covered by means of two swingable leaves 36, only one of which has been shown. The said leaves are swingably connected to the frame, which internally at its corners has angular recesses 38 to form projections 40, which can be engaged by an elastic band 42. The band also engages projections 44 at two corners of the leaves 36. The leaves can be opened and closed and will be maintained in open as Well as closed position by the pressing against one another of the lateral faces of the projections 40 and 44 by the band 42.

FIG. 10 shows an element 46, which is designed substantially as the one shown in FIG. 4, but the face of which is provided with a U-shaped recess 48, which forms a projection 50. This element is intended to form a roof surface of a house, which is to be provided with an attic. For the latter purpose the element 52 shown in FIG. 11 is used, the circumference of which forms an equilateral triangle, but the rest of which is made up of three plane faces 54, which together form a spatial corner. At two of the vertices of the triangle there are provided recesses 56, the detailed design of which appears from FIG. 19, whereas at the third vertex there is provided a recess, the shape of which is similar to that of the recess 48 in FIG. 10, whereby a projection 58 is formed. It will immediately be seen that the element 52 can be attached to one face of the element 46 with the use of three elastic bands extending along the sides of the triangle.

As will be seen from FIG. 19, which shows the recess 56 at a corner of a triangular element according to FIGS. 7 and 11, there are also in this case provided beads 60, extending from vertex to vertex. The projections 62 which limit the recess 56 have inwardly protruding bulges 64, by which means there is formed a narrow duct 66 leading to the recess 56, which also at its bottom is reinforced by means of a head 68. Between the latter and the beads 60 there are parts 70 with no reinforcement, which parts will be engaged by the elastic bands.

The element 72 shown in FIG. 12 is in the shape of a triangle, one side line 74 of which has the same length as the side line of the elements heretofore described, whereas the length of the other two side lines 76 is twice that of the former side line 74. At the middle of the long side lines there are provided recesses 78 to form indentations 80 and projections 82, see FIG. 20. At both sides of the indentations 80 there are provided reinforcing beads 84 and S6 of a kind similar to those referred to in connection with FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 13 shows two elements 88 and 90, which are shaped as cylinders, at one end 92 cut oif at right angles to the axis and at the other end 94 at an angle of 45 to the axis thus forming a body having a double curvature. At their end faces the said elements are provided with recess means 96, spaced at the same distance from each other and forming projections 98 which make it possible to connect the elements to each other or to an adjoining part by means of elastic bands 100, which in the present case will pass the cross section of the cylinders as chords.

Each element 88 or may consist of several parts which adjoin along generatrices on the cylinder face, and which are interconnected by means of elastic bands with the use of recess means in the manner heretofore described. As shown, reinforcing beads 182 may be provided along the edges of the end faces of the elements 88 and 90.

In its face the element 104, shown in FIG. 14, which is designed substantially as the square element shown in FIG. 4, has four H-shaped recesses 106 to form opposite projections 108. This makes it possible for the end face 92 of one of the elements shown in FIG. 13 to be connected to the element 104 with the use of elastic bands 11%, which are applied in the same way as those shown in FIG. 13. Between the recesses 106 there may be provided circularly curved beads 112, which serve as indicators for the end face 92 of the element attached.

The elements indicated by the invention may, e.g., also be so designed that eight elements 114, FIG. 15, can be put together to form a globe which is a body having a single curvature. In such case the said elements are formed as shown in FIG. 16 as one eighth of a globular shell, which at the vertices is provided with recesses 116 and projections 118 and along the edges with reinforcing beads 120. Each of the curved edges lies in a plane so that the edges of two elements may abut against one another or each edge may get into abutment with a plane element, e.g. with the use of the means shown in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 show embodiments chosen at random of hollow spatial bodies, which may be formed of the elements A, B, and C shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,

which at adjoining edges are assembled as heretofore described.

When the term body with single curvature is used, bodies are meant to be included which have a single curved surface thereon. The term body with double curvature is meant to include bodies having more than one curved surface thereon.

It will be seen that by means of the embodiments shown by way of examples, and to which many others can be added, a multitude of different spatial bodies can be constructed, on the elements which diverse annexes can be erected. The said annexes can also be used for the building together of several spatial bodies.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a constructional toy set comprising relatively thin elements having at least two edges, each of said elements being provided with recess means whereby edges of adjacent elements are adapted to be joined by elastic bands passing through said recess means and engaging said elements, the improvement wherein each recess means includes at least two recesses spaced from one another along one of said edges of said element and opening through said one edge, the distance of spacing between said two recesses being the same as the distance between spaced recesses on an edge of every other said element, said recesses being defined by projections extending along said elements, said recess means enabling two of said elements to be joined in edge abutment by placing said two elements edge to edge with said recesses of each element adjacent one another and said recess-defining projections abutting with a said elastic band passing through one pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections and along each element and through the other pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections, said joining elastic band thereby aligning said two elements in edge abutment and forming a hinge therebetween to allow an arbitrary angle between said two elements.

2. A toy set in accordance with claim 1, wherein said edges of said elements between recesses are thicker than the remainder of said element to effect reinforcing along said edges.

3. A constructional toy set according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said elements are formed as regular polygons, the edges of said polygons being constant for said elements, and said recesses are situated at the vertices of said polygons.

4. A constructional toy set according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said elements are formed as regular polygons, the edges of said polygons being constant for said elements, and said recesses are situated symmetrically and at a constant distance from the vertices of said polygons.

5. A constructional toy set according to claim 1, wherein said recesses are in the form of elongated slots and wherein thickenings are provided along the lateral edges but not at the bottom of said slot recesses which thickenings extend from both surfaces of said elements, the thickenings along one lateral edge of the recesses forming beads coinciding with the lateral edge of said elements and thereby form said projections as thickened portions.

6. A constructional toy set according to claim 5, in which the beads of a pair of recesses extend from recess to recess along the edge of said element.

7. In a constructional toy set comprising relatively thin elements having at least two edges, each of said elements being provided with recess means whereby edges of adjacent elements are adapted to be joined by elastic bands passing through said recess means and engaging said elements, the improvement wherein each recess means includes at least two recesses spaced from one another along one of said edges of said element, and opening thru said one edge, the distance of spacing between said two recesses being the same as the distance between spaced recesses on an edge of every other said element, said recesses being defined by projections extending along said elements, said recess means enabling two of said elements to be joined in edge abutment by placing said two elements edge to edge with said recesses of each element adjacent one another and said recess-defining projections abutting with a said elastic band passing through one pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections and along each element and through the other pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections, said joining elastic band thereby aligning said two elements in edge abutment, said elements being so curved that after assembling by means of the elastic bands at least two elements form at least part of a body with single curvature.

8. A constructional toy set according to claim 7, in which said elements have at least one curved side edge lying in a plane, said edge being provided with. recesses adapted to receive elastic bands for connecting it with a plane element.

9. In a constructional toy set comprising relatively thin elements having at least two edges, each of said elements being provided with recess means whereby edges of adjacent elements are adapted to be joined by elastic bands passing through said recess means and engaging said elements, the improvement wherein each recess means includes at least two recesses spaced from one another along one of said edges of said element, and opening through said one edge, the distance of spacing between said two recesses being the same as the distance between spaced recesses on an edge of every other said element, said recesses being defined by projections extending along said elements, said recess means enabling two of said elements to be joined in edge abutment by placing said two elements edge to edge with said recesses of each element adjacent one another and said recess-defining projections abutting with a said elastic band passing through one pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections and along each element and through the other pair of adjacent recesses about said abutting projections, said joining elastic band thereby aligning said two elements in edge abutment, said elements being so curved that after assembling by means of the elastic bands at least two elements form at least part of a body with double curvature.

10. A constructional toy set according to claim 9, in which the said elements have at least one curved side edge lying in a plane, said edge being provided with recesses adapted to receive elastic bands for connecting it with a plane element.

11. In a constructional toy set consisting of elements provided with recesses defined by projections and elastic bands adapted to engage said projections for connecting the elements together, the improvement wherein said elements are plate-shaped and said recesses are provided in pairs at the edges of said elements at a constant mutual distance for cooperating with said elastic bands to form a link between adjoining elements permitting an arbitrary angle between said adjoining elements, and wherein at least one element has a square aperture to form a frame provided at the vertices of the aperture with first recesses forming projections, gate leaves arranged in said aperture being provided with corresponding second recesses forming projections, the first and second recess projections constituting in connection with said elastic bands hinges for the gate leaves.

12. In a constructional toy set consisting of elements provided with recesses defined by projections and elastic bands adapted to engage said projections for connecting the elements together, the improvement wherein said elements are plate-shaped and said recesses are provided in pairs at the edges of said elements at a constant mutual distance for cooperating with said elastic bands to form a link between adjoining elements permitting an arbitrary angle between said adjoining elements, and wherein at least some of said elements are in the shape of regular polygons, the edges of which are of constant length and said recesses being located at the vertices of said polygons, and wherein at least one further element is formed as a '2' polygon having at least one elongated side, the length of which is a multiple of that of the side of said regular polygons, said elongated side being provided between its ends with at least one recess forming opposite projections and indentations for receiving said elastic bands.

13. In a constructional toy set consisting of elements provided with recesses defined by projections and elastic bands adapted to engage said projections for connecting the elements together, the improvement wherein said elements are plate-shaped and said recesses are provided in pairs at the edges of said elements at a constant mutual distance for cooperating with said elastic bands to form a link between adjoining elements permitting an arbitrary angle between said adjoining elements, and wherein the plate-shaped elements are provided along the edge and on one lateral face with a circumferential bead, the recesses 5 as a rounded profile extending over the bead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1956 Allison 12918 2/1964 Bessinger 4617 X FOREIGN PATENTS 23,759 1912 Great Britain.

15 RlCl-IARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY SET COMPRISING RELATIVELY THIN ELEMENTS HAVING AT LEAST TWO EDGES, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING PROVIDED WITH RECESS MEANS WHEREBY EDGES OF ADJACENT ELEMENTS ARE ADAPTED TO BE JOINED BY ELASTIC BANDS PASSING THROUGH SAID RECESS MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID ELEMENTS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN EACH RECESS MEANS INCLUDES AT LEAST TWO RECESSES SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG ONE OF SAID EDGES OF SAID ELEMENT AND OPENING THROUGH SAID ONE EDGE, THE DISTANCE OF SPACING BETWEEN SAID TWO RECESSES BEING THE SAME AS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SPACED RECESSES ON AN EDGE OF EVERY OTHER SAID ELEMENT, SAID RECESSES BEING DEFINED BY PROJECTIONS EXTENDING ALONG SAID ELEMENTS, SAID RECESS MEANS ENABLING TWO OF SAID ELEMENTS TO BE JOINED IN EDGE ABUTMENT BY PLACING SAID TWO ELEMENTS EDGE TO EDGE WITH SAID RECESSES OF EACH ELEMENT ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER AND SAID RECESS-DEFINING PROJECTIONS ABUTTING WITH A SAID ELASTIC BAND PASSING THROUGH ONE PAIR OF ADJACENT RECESSES ABOUT SAID ABUTTING PROJECTTIONS AND ALONG EACH ELEMENT AND THROUGH THE OTHER PAIR OF ADJACENT RECESSES ABOUT SAID ABUTTING PROJECTIONS, SAID JOINING ELASTIC BAND THEREBY ALIGNING SAID TWO ELEMENTS IN EDGE ABUTMENT AND FORMING A HINGE THEREBETWEEN TO ALLOW AN ARBITRARY ANGLE BETWEEN SAID TWO ELEMENTS. 